Blower apparatus

Abstract

A blower apparatus has a drive motor and a blower device operatively connected to the drive motor. A blower tube is connected to the blower device and has an outlet opening remote from the blower device. A blower air stream conveyed by the blower device passes through the blower tube in the direction of a longitudinal center axis of the blower tube and exits through the outlet opening in an outflow direction. A pivoting device that pivots the blower tube is provided. A nozzle is supported to be freely pivotable on the blower tube about at least one pivot axis, wherein the outlet opening is formed on the nozzle. The nozzle forms the pivot device for pivoting the blower tube and utilizes a transverse force that is generated by the blower air stream in the nozzle for pivoting the blower tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A blower apparatus comprising:
 a drive motor; 
 a blower device operatively connected to said drive motor; 
 a blower tube connected with a first end to the blower device and having an outlet opening at a second end remote from the first end, wherein a blower air stream conveyed by the blower device passes through the blower tube in a direction of a longitudinal center axis of the blower tube and exits through the outlet opening in an outflow direction; 
 a pivoting device configured to pivot the blower tube; 
 a nozzle supported freely pivotable on the blower tube about at least one pivot axis, wherein the outlet opening is formed on the nozzle; 
 wherein the nozzle forms the pivoting device and utilizes a transverse force to pivot the blower tube, the transverse force generated by the blower air stream within the nozzle. 
 
     
     
       2. The blower apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one stop between the nozzle and the blower tube, wherein the at least one stop determines an end position of a pivot movement of the nozzle. 
     
     
       3. The blower apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle comprises an adjusting device that is configured to adjust an amplitude and/or a frequency of a pivot movement of the blower tube. 
     
     
       4. A blower apparatus comprising:
 a drive motor; 
 a blower device operatively connected to said drive motor; 
 a blower tube connected with a first end to the blower device and having an outlet opening at a second end remote from the first end, wherein a blower air stream conveyed by the blower device passes through the blower tube in a direction of a longitudinal center axis of the blower tube and exits through the outlet opening in an outflow direction; 
 a pivoting device configured to pivot the blower tube; 
 a nozzle supported freely pivotable on the blower tube about at least one pivot axis, wherein the outlet opening is formed on the nozzle; 
 wherein the nozzle forms the pivoting device and utilizes a transverse force to pivot the blower tube, the transverse force generated by the blower air stream within the nozzle; 
 wherein the nozzle comprises an adjusting device that is configured to adjust an amplitude and/or a frequency of a pivot movement of the blower tube; 
 wherein the adjusting device comprises a mass body, wherein a position of the mass body relative to the at least one pivot axis of the nozzle is changeable. 
 
     
     
       5. The blower apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the mass body is slidably arranged on the nozzle. 
     
     
       6. The blower apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein a distance of the at least one pivot axis relative to the outlet opening is adjustable. 
     
     
       7. The blower apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a blocking device comprising a blocking position and a release position, wherein the blocking device blocks in the blocking position a pivot movement of the nozzle relative to the blower tube about the at least one pivot axis and enables the pivot movement of the nozzle relative to the blower tube about the at least one pivot axis in the release position. 
     
     
       8. The blower apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a damping device that dampens a pivot movement of the blower tube. 
     
     
       9. The blower apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the damping device dampens a pivot movement of the nozzle about the at least one pivot axis. 
     
     
       10. The blower apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the damping device has an adjustable damping action. 
     
     
       11. The blower apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a damping device that dampens a pivot movement of the nozzle about the at least one pivot axis. 
     
     
       12. The blower apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the damping device has an adjustable damping action. 
     
     
       13. The blower apparatus according to  claim 1  in the form of a handheld blower apparatus comprising a housing on which said blower tube and a handle are secured. 
     
     
       14. A blower apparatus comprising:
 a drive motor; 
 a blower device operatively connected to said drive motor; 
 a blower tube connected with a first end to the blower device and having an outlet opening at a second end remote from the first end, wherein a blower air stream conveyed by the blower device passes through the blower tube in a direction of a longitudinal center axis of the blower tube and exits through the outlet opening in an outflow direction; 
 a pivoting device configured to pivot the blower tube; 
 a nozzle supported freely pivotable on the blower tube about at least one pivot axis, wherein the outlet opening is formed on the nozzle; 
 wherein the nozzle forms the pivoting device and utilizes a transverse force to pivot the blower tube, the transverse force generated by the blower air stream within the nozzle; 
 wherein the blower apparatus is a backpack blower apparatus comprising a carrying frame to be carried on the back of an operator, wherein said blower tube is movably arranged relative to said carrying frame and wherein a handle is arranged on said blower tube. 
 
     
     
       15. The blower apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is supported freely pivotable on the blower tube such that the nozzle aligns itself freely in accordance with inertia forces and mass forces acting on the nozzle. 
     
     
       16. The blower apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is supported freely pivotable on the blower tube such that the nozzle, when the blower tube is pivoted, pivots as a result of the mass inertia of the nozzle relative to the blower tube, wherein friction forces acting between the nozzle and the blower tube are so small that mass inertia forces of the nozzle are sufficient to pivot the nozzle relative to the blower tube. 
     
     
       17. The blower apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pivot axis passes through the nozzle and through the blower tube. 
     
     
       18. The blower apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pivot axis intercepts a longitudinal center axis of the blower tube. 
     
     
       19. The blower apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the blower air stream generates in the nozzle an alternating transverse force that causes the blower tube to pivot back and forth. 
     
     
       20. The blower apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising a pivot bearing supporting the nozzle on the blower tube.